Fire-escape.



Fig 1.

J. P. SMITH.

FIRE ESCAPE.

APPLICATION IIILBD APR.19, 1909.

I m 'm Patented Aug. 10, 1909.

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JOHN P. SMITH, OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO ARTHUR W. TIBBETTS, OF NEW HAVEN, CONl\ EClI(."Ul.

FIRE-ESCAPE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 10, race.

Application filed. April 19, 1909. Serial No. 490,94

' Haven, in the county dt' New Haven and State of Connecticut, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Fire-Escapes; and I do hereby declare the following, when taken in connection 'with the accompanying drawings and the numerals of reference marked thereon, to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, and which said drawings constitute part of this specification, and represent, in

Figure 1 a plan View ofa portion of a ladder shown as attached to a building. Fig. 2 a side view of a portion of the same. Fig. 3

a side view showlng one means of securing one end of the ladder. Fig. 4 asimilar view showing another means of securing the same. Fig. 5 a side view of a portion of a ladder showing the links folded together.

This invention relates to an improvement in fire escapes, and particularly to the so called portable fire escapes formed from wire, the object of the invention being a simple construction which may be, folded into small space and which will form a convenient ladder when in place; and the invention consists in the. construction hereinafter described and particularly recited in the claims.

The ladder is formed from a series of links 2, 3, more or less in number. The links 2 are of U-shape the sides 4, 5, being bowed transversely and at the center of the sides are preferably inset as at 6. Secured to the sides at the insets are rounds 7 which are formed-from stripsol metal the ends of which are bent around the sides of the links 2 at the inset 6,'and the central portion of the rounds are turned into a plane at rightangles to the ends so as to form a llat tread.

The ends 8 of the links 2 are bent around an end bar 9 of the links 3 and the ends 10 of the links 3 are bent around the end bars 11 of the links 2, the links 2 being slightly narrower than the links 3 so that the links 9 will pass through the links 3. These links are of such a length that the rounds 7 will when the device is open, occur once in about twelve inches,

In use the bars 9 or 11 may be engaged with hooks 12 secured to the floor adjacent to a winiclow, orthe hook ends of the links 2 or 10 of the links 3 may be engaged with eyes 13 secured in the floor or other convenient point.

When the escape is in position the ends of the links 2 will restagainst the Wall so as to ofiset the treads from the Wall and thus provide suliicient foot room.

\Vhen the device is not in use, it may be folded into small space as shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings, the links 2 as before stated folding into the links 3. v

This chain-like ladder may be made in indefinite lengths and carried by the trade as a regular article of commerce.

I claim l. A fire escape formed from Wllu links each link including an end bar to which the ends of the next adjacent link are hooked, alternate links made narrower than the intermediate links and having their sides longitudinally bowed, and rounds secured to these bowed links.

r 2. A fire escape formed from wire links each link including an end bar to which the ends of the next adjacent link are hooked, alternate linkslongitudinally bowed, treads secured. to these bowed links, said treads consisting of sheet metal strips the ends of which are turned around the sides of the said links, and the central portion of the treads turned at rightangles to the ends, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof, I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses JOHN P. SMITH.

\Vitnesses FRnDERIo (l-Esnnn, CLARA L. WEED. 

